'The turret ship Cerberus, carrying four 18-ton guns, has been put into a state of efficiency; the steamship Victoria has been got ready for the work of laying torpedoes when necessary, and has been armed with light guns; and the Nelson, an old line-of-battle ship, is in the process of conversion into a frigate. Good progress has also been made with the construction of batteries at Port Phillip Heads. Probably all these warlike preparations will slacken now that peace has been assured in Europe.'